U£??ARY 


ITHE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRA 

F 


'..,., 


,, 


REMINISCENCES 


OK    THE 


RESOLUTION, 


LE  LOUP'S  BLOODY  TRAIL 


FROM 


SALEM  TO  FORT  EDWARD. 


UTIC A  : 

irS    R«'X)K  &  JOB  PRINTER,  60  GENESEE  STREET. 
1859. 


REMINISCENCES 


OP  THE 


REVOLUTION; 


OR, 


LE  LOUP'S  BLOODY  TRAIL 


SALEM  TO  FORT  EDWARD. 


BY    ARTHUR   REID. 


UTIC  A  : 

ROBERTS,  BOOK  &  JOB  PRINTER,  HERALD  OFFICE,  60  GENESEE  STREET. 
1859. 


PREFACE. 


IN  the  month  of  March  last,  a  sketch  appeared  in  the  Salem 
Press,  entitled,  "  REMINISCENCES  OF  THE  REVOLUTION."  Since 
the  appearance  of  these  "  Reminiscences,"  our  friends  have 
represented  them  as  containing  historical  facts  worthy  of  pres- 
ervation, and  have  intimated  a  desire  to  have  them  published 
in  a  more  permanent  form.  In  view  of  the  foregoing  solicita- 
tion, and  in  consequence  of  the  seeming  demand  for  this 
reminiscential  article,  and  in  consideration  of  the  perishable 
nature  of  the  columns  of  a  newspaper,  we  have  concluded  to  put 
the  work  in  a  'pamphlet  form,  with  some  alterations  and  addi- 
tions. 

Without  any  further  prefatory  remarks,  the  following  pages 
arc  submitted  to  the  public,  hoping  that  they  may  awaken  in 
the  minds,  of  some  at  least,  a  spirit  of  thankfulness  and  grati- 
tude for  the  great  change  that  has  taken  place  since  the  days 
of  the  Revolution, — "  the  days  that  tried  men's  souls." 

ARTHUR  REID. 

SOUTH  ARGYLE,  WAsmxGTox  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October  1.  18.50. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 


IT  cannot  but  be  interesting  and  profitable  to  contrast  the  present 
condition  of  this  country,  with  what  it  was  in  its  early  settlement,  when 
our  forefathers  had  to  encounter  so  many  difficulties  and  toils  and  trials 
and  privations.  Now  we  are  seated  by  our  firesides  in  the  enjoyment 
not  only  of  the  necessaries,  but  of  the  luxuries  of  life  ;  not  only  of 
civil,  but  religious  liberty — alike  free  from  internal  commotions  and  for- 
eign invasions.  The  wigwam  and  the  log  cabin  have  turned  into  com- 
modious and  comfortable  dwellings.  The  hunting  shout  of  the  Indian 
has  died  away  upon  the  breeze,  but  he  has  left  his  wild,  poetic  names 
indelibly  impressed  upon  land  and  water.  The  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife  have  changed  into  implements  of  husbandry  and  usefulness. — 
The  Indian  coin — beads  and  shells — has  turned  into  gold  and  silver  cur- 
rency. The  fragile  birchen  canoe,  skimming  the  crested  wave,  has  been 
supplanted  by  the  gallant  steamer,  plowing  deep  the  majestic  rivers  and 
lakes,  and  anon,  riding  triumphantly  the  briny  crescent  wave.  The  cir- 
cuitous, ambushed  Indian  path  has  turned  into  the  scientific  iron  path- 
way, upon  which  the  iron  horse,  puffing  and  blowing,  travels  at  a  fearful 
pace,  his  whole  system  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement, 
his  veins  distended  with  boiling  liquid,  his  heart  composed  of  glowing 
coals,  onward  he  rushes  breathing  fire  and  smoke ;  anon,  he  stops  to 
slake  his  thirst,  and  behemoth  like,  "  drinketh  up  a  river,"  and  like  the 
overgrown  mastodon,  devours  the  trunks  of  trees  to  appease  his  hunger 
— refreshed,  *'  like  a  strong  man  to  run  a  race,"  he  springs  forward, 
"  rejoicing  in  the  greatness  of  his  strength."  The  howling  of  the  wild 
beasts  of  the  forest  is  changed  into  the  neighing  and  lowing  of  domes- 
ticated animals.  The  red  man's  wild  halloo,  echoing  and  re-echoing 
along  the  hills,  is  changed  into  the  scream  of  the  sieam  whistle  of  the 
locomotive,  reverberating  from  the  mountain  sides.  The  dense  forests 
have  been  turned  into  fruitful  fields ;  the  war  whoop  of  the  Indian  has 
been  changed  into  the  proclamation  of  peace  and  tranquility  ;  and  the 
horrid  and  terrific  yell  of  the  savage,  into  the  din  of  civilization. 

•Incidents  of  the  Revolution  must  be  interesting  to  every  American 
citizen,  and  particularly  so  to  the  surviving  friends  and  relatives  of  those 


immediately  connected  with  such  incidents,  as  well  as  those  now  resid- 
ing in  the  vicinity  where  such  incidents  occurred. 

It  is  perhaps  worth  while  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the  following  reli- 
able reminiscences  of  the  Kevolution,  which  I  had  from  various  sources, 
but  particularly  from  the  lips  of  my  aged  aunt,  (lately  deceased,)  who 
was  eight  years  of  age  at  the  time  these  incidents  transpired — a  time  of 
life  in  which  the  memory  is  in  full  vigor.  The  impressions  then  made 
are  vivid  and  lasting.  The  accumulating-  cares  and  toils  and  sorrows  of 
after  life  can  never  eradicate  them.  And  even  in  old  age,  when  the 
mind  is  incapacitated  for  receiving  new  impressions — when  the  passing 
events  of  the  day  are  soon  obliterated,  and  leave  scarcely  a  trace  upon 
the  mind — incidents,  even  the  most  minute  connected  with  youth,  or 
even  childhood,  are  recalled  without  any  apparent  effort,  with  vivid  and 
startling  accuracy.  The  human  mind  being  thus  constituted,  early  re- 
collections may  be  received  as  reliable  information,  and  may  be  record- 
ed as  such  on  the  historic  page. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1777,  a  scouting  party  of  In- 
,£1"  dians,  consisting  of  eight  persons,  received  an  injury,  or  a  supposed  injury, 
from  some  white  persons  at  New  Perth,  now  Salem,  Washington  County, 
New  York,  for  which  they  were  determined  to  have  revenge. 

But  little  more  than  a  year  had  then  elapsed  since  the  birthday  of  the 
Empire  in  which  we  live, — an  eventful  period  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try. The  colonists  had  made  many  unsuccessful  attempts  to  obtain  a 
redress  of  grievances,  and  at  the  same  time  protested  their  unabating 
attachment  to  the  mother  country,  and  a  willingness,  notwithstanding  all 
that  had  passed,  still  to  be  dutiful  and  obedient  subjects,  on  condition 
certain  odious  acts  of  the  British  Parliament  were  repealed.  But  when 
all  hopes  of  effecting  a  reconciliation  vanished,  they  then  openly  and 
avowedly  asserted  their  rights  in  the  very  face  of  the  tyranny  and  op- 
pression of  the  mother  country,  and  proceeded  to  dissolve  all  their  al- 
legiance to  the  British  Crown,  and  to  declare  themselves  free  and  inde- 
pendent, and,  in  their  weak  and  infantile  condition,  were  determined  to 
make  a  desperate  struggle  in  order  to  obtain  a  name  and  place  among 
the  nations  of  the  earth  ;  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  the  mother  country 
was  equally  determined  to  exert  her  every  energy  to  bring  into  dutiful 
subjection  her  disobedient  and  refractory  offspring,  and  make  her  suc- 
cumb to  her  parental  authority,  and  to  crush  every  effort  that  was  made 
to  set  up  an  Independent  Government.  One  of  the  measures  resorted 
to  in  order  to  intimidate  and  terrify  those  who  dared  to  make  resistance 
to  her  authority,  was  the  adoption  of  the  cruel  and  mistaken  policy  of 
forming  an  unnatural  and  culpable  alliance  with  the  treacherous  and 
bloodthirsty  American  savages.  The  consequence  was,  that  bands  of 


these  merciless  marauders  were  scouring   the  country,  committing  dep- 
redations and  spreading  dismay  and  terror  among  the  scattered  settlers. 

At  the  above  date,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Perth  and  vicinity  had 
erected  a  temporary  fort  to  which  they  resorted,  especially  at  night,  for 
protection.  The  inmates  of  this  fort,  observing  the  scouting  party 
Indians  above  alluded  to,  prowling  around,  fired  upon  them  from  the  fort, 
and  killed  one  of  their  number,  at  which  the  seven  surviving  .Indians 
were  exceedingly  exasperated.  With  a  spirit  of  revenge  rankling  in  their 
bosoms,  they  swore,  according  to  their  custom,  that  for  the  blood  of 
their  comrade  they  would  exact  the  blood  and  scalps  of  the  first  white 
family  that  came  in  their  way,  as  a  plenary,  expiatory  sacrifice.  This 
oath  was  taken  in  the  presence  of  a  white  man,  a  prisoner  then  in  their 
possession.  Who  this  prisoner  was,  where  he  resided,  how,  where,  and 
when,  they  became  in  possession  of  him,  is  not  now  known  ;  to  each 
of  these  inquiries  history  is  silent — and  all  that  is  known  of  his  future 
history  will  appear  in  the  sequel. 

The  party  of  Indians  alluded  to,  was  a  part  of  a  large  body,  who  had 
assembled,  according  to  previous  arrangements,  at  the  place  where  the 
invading  army,  under  General  Burgoyne,  was  then  encamped,  which 
was  on  the  banks  of  the  Boquet — a  romantic  and  picturesque  little  river 
upon  the  west  bank  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  not  far  distant  in  a  north- 
erly direction  from  Crown  Point.  In  order  to  inspire  the  savages  with 
courage,  Gen.  Burgoyne  considered  it  expedient,  in  compliance  with 
their  custom,  to  give  them  a  war  feast,  at  which  they  performed  many 
rites  and  ceremonies  peculiar  to  themselves,  indulging  in  the  most  ex- 
travagant maneuvers,  gesticulations,  and  exulting  vociferations,  such  as 
lying  in  ambush  and  displaying  their  rude  armorial  devices,  and  dancing 
and  whooping  and  yelling  and  brandishing  their  tomahawks  and  scalping 
knives.  Such  barbarous  conduct  preparatory  to  engaging  in  war,  must 
have  been  looked  upon  by  the  assembled  civilized  troops  with  suspicion 
and  disgust. 

It  ought  to  be  stated,  in  justice  to  Gen.  Burgoyne,  that  he  wasin  senti- 
ment opposed  to  entering  into  an  alliance  with  the  treacherous  savages. 
He  had  been  in  the  country  long  enough  to  learn  something  of  the 
character  and  disposition  of  the  Indians,  and  from  the  knowledge  he  had 
acquired  of  their  unreliableness,  he  was  led  into  the  belief  that  their 
presence  would  be  a  hindrance  instead  of  a  help,  and  he  was  confirmed 
in  this  belief  by  after  bitter  experience.  The  achievement  of  splendid 
victories  was  marred  by  their  inhuman  and  barbarous  conduct,  and  in 
the  hour  of  need  they  basely  deserted  him.  But  Burgoyne  being  am- 
bitious of  military  preferment,  and  desirous  that  his  name  should  go 
down  to  posterity  covered  with  military  glory,  yielded  to  the  positive 


instructions  of  the  British  ministry,  which  were  to  form  an  alliance  with 
the  Indians — a  policy  cruel  and  unjustifiable — a  policy  that  redounded 
to  their  own  confusion. 

After  the  war  feast  was  over,  Gen.  Burgoyne,  attired  in  splendid  uni- 
form, assembled  his  dusky  auxiliaries,  and,  in  a  dignified  manner,  made 
a  speech  to  them  distinguished  for  its  ingenuity  and  singular  energy. — 
He  endeavored  to  explain  to  them  the  cause  and  nature  of  the  war — 
that  it  was  not  a  war  waged  against  a  common  enemy — that  there  were 
many  in  the  country  that  adhered  with  unabated  faithfulness  to  the  mo- 
ther country — that  there  was  an  intermixture  of  friends  and  foes — and 
that  they  must  discriminate  between  those  that  were  friendly  to  the 
British  Crown,  and  thpse  that  were  not.  He  strictly  charged  them  to 
put  none  to  death  excepting  those  who  actually  opposed  them  with  wea- 
pons of  warfare  in  their  hands,  and  that  they  might  scalp  those,  and  those 
only,  whom  they  had  fairly  slain  in  battle.  He  was  willing  to  indulge 
them  thus  far  in  the  great  honor  they  had  affixed  to  these  barbarous 
badges  of  victory.  But  he  strictly  enjoined  them  to  spare  the  lives  of 
old  men,  women,  children  and  prisoners,  under  every  possible  circum- 
stance. He  forbade  them,  under  any  pretext  whatever,  to  scalp  the 
wounded,  or  even  the  dying — and  pronounced  it  still  more  unpardonable, 
if  possible,  to  kill  the  wounded,  in  order  to  evade  the  injunction.  He 
promised  to  reward  them  liberally  for  every  prisoner  they  captured  and 
brought  into  the  camp.  He  profusely  bestowed  upon  them  flattering 
commendations  of  their  previous  conduct ;  and  finally,  he  charged  them 
to — "  Go  forth  in  the  might  of  your  valor  and  your  cause  ;  strike  at  the 
common  enemies  of  Great  Britain  and  of  America — disturbers  of  pub- 
lic order,  peace  and  happiness — destroyers  of  commerce — parricides  of 
the  State." 

When  Burgoyne  had  concluded  his  elaborate  speech,  a  chieftain  of 
the  Iroquois,  whose  name  was  Le  Loup,  and  who  was  the  chief  of  the 
scouting  party  of  Indians  alluded  to  above,  arose  in  a  dignified  manner, 
and  with  an  easy  repose  of  limbs,  to  reply,  not  only  in  behalf  of  his 
own  tribe,  but  also  of  the  other  Indian  tribes  present.  After  taking  a 
brief  survey  of  the  troops  and  his  fellow-warriors,  he  stretched  forth 
his  hand  and  spoke  as  follows : 

"  I  stand  up  in  the  name  of  all  the  nations  present,  to  assure  our  fa- 
ther that  we  have  attentively  listened  to  his  discourse.  We  receive  you 
as  our  father,  because  when  you  speak  we  hear  the  voice  of  our  great 
father  beyond  the  great  lake.  We  rejoice  in  the  approbation  you  have 
expressed  of  our  behavior.  We  have  been  tried  and  tempted  by  the 
Bostonians  (meaning  the  Patriots)  ;  but  we  loved  our  father,  and  our 
hatchets  have  been  sharpened  upon  our  affections.  In  proof  of  the 


sincerity  of  our  professions,  our  whole  villages  able  to  go  to  war,  are 
come  forth.  The  old  and  infirm,  our  infants  and  wives,  alone  remain 
at  home.  With  one  common  assent,  we  promise  a  constant  obedience 
to  all  you  have  ordered  and  all  you  shall  order  ;  and  may  the  Father  of 
Days  give  you  many  and  success  !" 

This  Iroquois  chieftain  was  distinguished  for  his  insatiable  thirst  for 
blood  and  plunder,  in  consequence  of  which  "  the  followers  of  Montcalm 
had  appropriately  bestowed  upon  him  the  appellation  of '  Le  Loup' — the 
wolf  /"  He  was  so  named  in  consequence  of  possessing  so  many  points 
of  resemblance  to  that  rapacious,  crafty,  bold  and  warlike  animal.  It 
is  well  known  that  wolves  go  in  packs,  and  it  is  said  they  always  select 
the  most  bold  and  ferocious  of  their  pack  for  a  chief  or  leader  ;  in  like 
manner,  his  tribe  had  chosen  Le  Loup,  inasmuch  as  he  was  the  most 
bold  and  ferocious  of  their  number,  for  a  chief  or  leader.  He  manifest- 
ed his  boldness  and  forwardness  in  volunteering  to  speak  in  behalf  of 
his  own  tribe,  and  the  other  tribes  present.  In  his  reply  to  Burgoyne, 
he  fairly  promised  a  constant  obedience  to  all  the  orders  he  had  given, 
and  that  he  might  think  proper  to  give,  but  his  wolfish  disposition  was 
concealed  underneath  "  sheep's  clothing." 

It  was  on  the  21st  of  June  that  these  scenes  were  enacted  at  the 
Boquet ;  and  it  was  before  leaving  this  vicinity  that  Burgoyne  issued 
a  manifesto,  rampant  with  pomposity  and  exaggeration.  He  prefaced 
this  remarkable  manifesto  by  enumerating  all  the  numerous  titles  and 
offices  he  held,  both  in  America  and  Great  Britain,  in  order  to  gratify 
his  vanity,  and  overawe  the  Americans  by  his  many  high-sounding  titles. 
He  invited  all  well-disposed  persons  to  assist  in  putting  an  end  to  the 
existing  disgraceful  rebellion.  He  promised  protection  and  security  to 
all  those  who  remained  neutral,  and  to  those  who  quietly  pursued  their 
occupations.  He  promised  that  all  those  who  would  furnish  the  camp 
with  necessary  provisions  should  be  amply  rewarded.  But  to  those  who 
offered  resistance, and  obstinately  persisted  in  rebellion,  a  terrible  war 
awaited  them.  He  magnified  the  strength  of  the  British  armies  and 
fleets,  and  greatly  exaggerated  the  number  of  Indians  under  his  direc- 
tion. He  represented  that  thousands  of  these  ferocious  warriors  were 
under  his  control,  and  that  they  were  eager  to  be  let  loose  upon  the  en- 
emies of  Great  Britain  and  America,  and  that  it  would  be  the  height  of 
madness  and  folly  to  attempt  resistance,  as  there  could  be  no  escaping 
the  penetrating  search  of  the  Indians.  He  had  only  to  say  the  word, 
and  the  keen-scented  savages,  like  trained  blood-hounds,  would  pene- 
trate the  most  distant  and  deep  recesses  of  the  forest.  No  covert,  how- 
ever recluse,  could  screen  from  their  pursuit — even  the  subterraneous 
caverns  could  not  escape  their  scrutinizing  search. 


8 

Copies  of  this  proclamation  were  scattered  broadcast  in  all  directions. 
The  loyalists,  who  remained  at  home,  quietly  pursuing  their  occupa- 
tions, rested  in  comparative  security  from  the  depredations  of  the  In- 
dians, relying  upon  Burgoyne's  promised  protection  ;  and  some,  in  order 
to  render  themselves  still  more  secure,  took  precaution  to  obtain  a  writ- 
ten protection. 

Burgoyne  endeavored  to  render  the  Indians  an  object  of  terror,  and, 
by  exhibiting  them  in  their  hideousness  and  ferociousness,  to  frighten 
the  rebels  into  submission  ;  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  he  attempted  to 
mitigate  their  natural  ferocity  and  rapacity,  and  from  the  fair  promi- 
ses he  had  received  from  them,  he  was  credulous  enough  to  believe 
that  he  had  accomplished  his  end.  But,  alas  !  all  the  fair  promises  he 
had  received  from  them  were  as  fleeting  as  the  morning  dew.  "  As 
soon  as  their  nostrils  snuffed  the  first  scent  of  blood,"  like  a  pack  of 
hungry  wolves,  all  their  natural  ferocity  was  aroused. 

Burgoyne  was  more  and  more  convinced  of  the  cruel  and  mistaken 
policy  of  forming  an  alliance  with  the  savages.  As  the  invading  army 
moved  along  towards  its  destination,  he  found  it  impossible  to  maintain 
anything  like  military  order  among  his  swarthy  auxiliaries.  He  could 
not  prevent  them  from  wandering  from  the  main  body  of  the  army,  in 
small  parties,  in  all  directions,  plundering  and  massacring  indiscriminate- 
ly both  friends  and  foes  ;  even  a  written  protection  from  Burgoyne  was 
generally  disregarded.  Often  royalists  and  republicans  were  compelled 
to  flee  in  dismay  before  the  tomahawks,  and  scalping-knives,  and  ter- 
rific yells  of  the  savages. 

About  a  month  after  the  above  date,  we  find  Le  Loup  and  his  party 
in  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  as  before  related.  Although  more  than  three- 
fourths  of  a  century  have  elapsed  since  that  time,  and  although  all  the 
busy  actors  of  the  stirring  scenes  of  the  Revolution  have  passed  from 
off  the  stage  of  time,  yet  may  the  bloody  trail  of  these  fierce  maraud- 
ers still  be  traced. 

Accordingly  Le  Loup  and  his  band  started  from  Salem,  en  route  to 
the  place  where  the  van  of  the  invading  army,  under  Gen.  Burgoyne, 
was  then  encamped,  which  was  about  four  miles  north  of  Fort  Edward, 
with  a  full  determination  of  massacring  and  scalping  the  first  white  fa- 
mily that  came  in  their  way. 

My  grandfather's  family  was  the  first  that  came  in  the  Indian's  way 
on  their  direct  route  from  Salem  to  the  encampment.  At  that  epoch, 
the  country  was  exceedingly  sparsely  settled.  The  margins  of  streams 
and  lakes  were  dotted  here  and  there  by  small  clearings — the  vast  in- 
tervening wilderness  was  almost  entirely  uninhabited,  except  by  the  In- 
dians and  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest.  At  that  time  a  few  families 


9 

had  settled  along  the  right  bank  of  the  On-da-wa,  now  Batten  Kill,  be- 
tween what  is  now  called  Fitch's  Point  and  the  bend  of  the  Kill,  about 
two  miles  north  of  Battenville.  The  Indians  passed  north  of  this  set- 
tlement. 

My  grandfather's  family  consisted  of  six  persons,  viz : — the  parents 
and  four  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  ten,  and  the  youngest  four 
years  of  age. 

As  most  of  the  following  reminiscences  have  been  gathered  in  the 
township  of  Argyle,  and  the  present  County  of  Washington,  then  Char- 
lotte, formerly  Albany  County,  it  might  not  be  uninteresting  to  our 
readers  to  give  a  brief  historical  outline  of  said  Township  and  County. 

Albany  County  took  its  name  Sept.  24th,  1664.  It  was  one  of  the 
original  Counties,  and  erected  by  a  law  of  the  first  legislature  ever  held 
in  the  colony  of  New  York,  which  was  Nov.  1st,  1683.  It  has  since 
been  divided  into  48  counties,  which  embrace  something  like  nine-tenths 
of  the  territory  of  the  whole  State,  and  also  the  counties  of  Cumber- 
land and  Gloucester,  now  belonging  to  Vermont,  which  was  ceded  to 
that  State  Oct.  7th,  1790.  March  12th,  1772,  the  county,  by  the  name 
of  Charlotte,  was  erected  by  law ;  it  then  embraced  the  territories  of 
the  present  Washington  and  Warren  counties.  In  the  year  1784, 
April  2d,  its  name  was  altered  from  Charlotte  to  Washington,  in  honor 
of  General  Washington  for  the  military  achievements  he  had  performed 
during  the  Kevolutionary  struggle.  By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  pass- 
ed March  12th,  1813,  Washington  County  was  divided — the  part  lying 
west  of  Lake  George  was  erected  into  a  county  by  the  name  of  War- 
ren, and  the  part  lying  south  and  east  retained  the  name  of  Washington. 

The  township  of  Argyle  was  organized  in  the  year  1771.  It  then 
embraced  not  only  the  territory  of  the  present  township  of  Argyle,  but 
also  that  of  Greenwich  and  Fort  Edward.  Duncan  Campbell  was  Su- 
pervisor the  first  ten  years  of  its  existence.  By  an  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, passed  April  12th,  1813,  the  south  part  of  the  township  of  Ar- 
gyle was  erected  by  law  into  a  township  by  the  name  of  Greenwich,  the 
north  part  retaining  its  original  name.  In  the  year  1818  the  west  part 
of  the  township  of  Argyle  was  set  apart  into  a  township  called  Fort  Ed- 
ward, the  east  part  retaining  the  name  of  Argyle.  The  original  town- 
ship of  Argyla  was  composed  of  several  patents,  the  largest  of  which 
was  the  Scotch  or  Argyle  patent,  from  which  the  township  derived  its 
name.  Originally  the  Argyle  or  Scotch  patent  was  a  grant  of  land 
made  by  George  III.  to  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  of  Scotland,  and  by  the 
Duke  of  Argyle  to  107  persons,  emigrants  from  Scotland,  with  Capt. 
Laughlin  Campbell,  in  the  year  1738,  1739  and  1740  ;  and  surveyed  in 
the  year  1764  by  Messrs.  Archibald  Campbell  and  Christopher  Yates, 


containing  47,700  acres  of  land.  Through  the  centre  of  this  patent  a 
strip  of  land,  24  rods  wide,  running  east  and  west,  was  laid  out,  and 
called  "  the  Street."  On  both  sides  of  the  street  141  town  lots  were 
laid  out — in  length  from  north  to  south  180  rods,  and  varying  in  width. 
The  remainder  of  the  patent,  north  and  south  of  the  town  lots,  was  laid  • 
out  into  the  same  number  (141)  of  farm  lots,  varying  in  size  from  200 
to  600  acres.  Each  farm  lot  had  a  town  lot  belonging  to  it,  with  a  cor- 
responding number,  and  containing  10  acres  for  every  100  acres  con- 
tained in  the  farm  lot. 

.  The  original  design  in  thus  laying  out  the  patent  was  to  give  the  gran- 
tees an  opportunity  of  erecting  their  dwellings  on  the  town  lots  near  to 
and  fronting  the  street ;  thus  affording  a  mutual  protection  from  the 
wild  beasts  aad  Indians  ;  and  when  the  country  was  more  cleared  up,  to 
have  the  parts  of  the  town  lots  lying  back,  laid  out  into  gardens  and 
parks  and  lawns,  and  the  farm  lots  lying  back,  to  be  used  for  agricultu- 
ral purposes,  and  the  street  to  be  used  as  a  thoroughfare. 

The  practicability  of  such  an  arrangement  might  look  very  feasible, 
plotted  on  a  smooth  surface ;  but  the  experienced  backwoodsman  would 
at  once  see  the  utter  impracticability  of  carrying  out  such  a  plan,  espe- 
cially in  a  heavy-timbered,  uneven  country  ;  and  he  might  feel  disposed 
to  look  upon  it  as  tinctured  with  Scottish  aristocratic  simplicity. 

The  present  township  of  Argyle  lies  wholly  within  the  Argyle  patent, 
and  also  a  part  of  Greenwich,  and  a  small  part  of  Fort  Edward.  My 
grandfather,  Duncan  McArthur,  was  one  of  the  grantees  of  the  Scotch 
patent,  and  drew  town  and  farm  lots  numbered  44.  In  the  year  1765, 
he  erected  a  rude  dwelling  on  the  farm  lot,  and  moved  his  family  into 
the  same.  About  the  year  1775,  he  erected  a  more  permanent  and 
commodious  dwelling.  It  was  in  this  building  that  the  family  resided 
at  the  time  of  the  intended  massacre.  It  was  situated  on  the  south-east 
corner  of  the  present  township  of  Argyle,  and  about  eight  miles  westerly 
from  Salem,  and  about  one  mile  in  the  same  direction  from  Lakeville. 
The  house  was  built  of  hewed  white  pine  logs,  7  by  16  inches,  notched 
at  the  ends,  so  that  the  under  and  upper  edge  of  each  log  touched  the 
edges  of  the  logs  below  and  above.  Its  size  was  20  by  24  feet,  with  five 
pine  beams,  7  by  12  inches,  running  the  long  way  of  the  house.  On 
the  east  side  of  the  house  stood  a  huge  stone  chimney,  with  an  ample 
capacity  for  the  reception  of  fuel.  The  durability  of  the  logs  of  which 
this  house  was  composed  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  they  are 
still  in  use.  Last  year  the  logs  were  put  together  for  the  fourth  time, 
near  the  place  where  the  house  was  first  erected. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  house  flowed  a  clear,  cool  stream — the  prin- 
cipal tributary  of  the  Cossayuna  Lake — and  the  outlet  of  what  may  be 


11 

called  the  Argyle  Lake,  as  it  is  the  only  lake  lying  wholly  in  the  present 
township  of  Argyle.  In  this  stream  abounded  the  spotted  trout,  darting 
from  their  places  of  concealment,  and  seizing  some  unwary  insect,  and 
quickly  retiring  with  their  prey  to  some  favorite  place  of  retreat.  On 
either  side  of  this  stream,  and  for  several  miles  around,  stood  dense 
forests  covered  with  thick  foliage,  interspersed  with  the  ever  green  pine, 
rearing  their  towering  tops  high  above  the  other  trees  of  the  forest, — 

"  Whose  living  towers  the  years  conspired  to  build  ; 
Whose  giddy  tops  the  morning  loved  to  gild." 

About  two  miles  in  a  northwesterly  direction  from  my  ancestral  abode, 
was  situated  the  Argyle  Lake,  occupying  an  elevated  position,  and  dis- 
tinguished for  the  picturesque  scenery  with  which  it  was  surrounded. 
It  was  circumscribed  by  a  range  of  hills,  the  sloping  sides  of  which  were 
covered  with  thick  foliage,  which  reflected  from  the  waters'  smooth  sur- 
face a  brilliant  green  hue.  At  its  southern  extremity  there  was  a  recess, 
through  which  its  surplus  water  passed  off,  winding  along  through  nar- 
row defiles  and  deep  morasses,  accumulating,  as  it  meandered  along, 
from  gurgling  springs,  gushing  from  their  deep,  cool  recesses.  Opposite 
the  house,  there  was  a  fall  of  some  fifteen  feet,  over  the  craggy  rocks  of 
which,  the  water  went  seething  and  foaming  and  tumbling,  and  then 
rippling  and  murmuring  and  meandering  its  way  some  half  a  mile,  and 
mixing  with  the  waters  of  Cossayuna  Lake. 

Towards  the  rising  sun,  not  far  distant,  lay  the  placid,  sparkling 
waters  of  the  Cossayuna  Lake,  girt  about  by  luxuriant  forest  trees, 
standing  up  to  the  waters'  edge  on  its  zigzag  shore,  reflecting  every 
overhanging  branch  and  leaf  from  its  polished  surface.  Toward  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  Lake  was  situated  a  picturesque  island,  beau- 
fully  rounded  from  its  oblong  base.  The  island  contains  something  like 
ten  acres  of  land,  its  length  being  about  seventy  rods,  and  its  greatest 
width  about  one  third  that  distance,  and  its  greatest  elevation  above  the 
surface  of  the  Lake,  about  sixty  feet.  In  form,  it  resembles  an  inverted 
boat.  It  would  seem  as  if  the  beneficent  hand  of  nature  had  intended 
its  form  as  a  hint  to  the  artist,  as  the  most  suitable  shape  for  a  boat  that 
would  ride  the  most  successfully  the  swelling  wave — for  it  must  be 
acknowledged  that  the  works  of  art,  as  respects  both  beauty  and  utility, 
are  but  a  transcript  from  some  of  nature's  works.  But  the  kind  hand  of 
nature  might  have  had  an  additional  object  in  view  in  the  formation  of 
this  beautifully  proportioned  island — in  this  finishing  touch  to  the  Cos- 
sayuna Lake.  It  might  have  been  intended  as  an  elevation  whereon 
the  spectator  might  stand,  and  view  and  admire  the  surrounding  scenery, 
and  acknowledge  the  superiority  of  the  works  of  nature  over  those  of 


12 

art.  At  the  present  time,  in  the  vicinity  of  this  island,  accommodations 
have  been  made  for  the  reception  of  fishing  and  pleasure  parties,  who 
congregate  thither  as  a  place  of  fashionable  resort.  But  to  return  to 
the  habitation  where  dwelt  the  victims  of  the  intended  massacre. 

To  the  humble  occupants  of  the  dwelling,  nothing  was  to  be  seen  but 
the  sole  productions  of  an  All- Wise  Creator.  The  works  of  nature 
remained  untouched  by  the  hand  of  art ;  they  were  led  to  look  up  from 
nature's  works  to  nature's  God  for  protection.  The  waving,  somber 
forests  presented  a  scene  of  melancholy  grandeur.  The  thick  over- 
hanging foliage,  and  the  accumulated  droppings  of  the  autumnal  leaves 
for  many  a  century,  had  effectually  prevented  the  sun  from  warming 
the  deep,  rich  soil  lying  underneath.  No  woodman's  axe  had  felled  the 
majestic  monuments  of  nature's  spontaneous  productions,  excepting  a 
few  rods  around  the  house.  An  almost  melancholy  stillness  pervaded 
the  surrounding  scenery — no  resounding  of  the  husbandman's  flail,  or 
hum  of  the  threshing  machine  ;  no  rattling  of  carriage  wheels,  or  rum- 
bling of  railway  cars  ;  no  shrill  blast  of  the  steam-whistle  of  the  loco- 
motive was  to  be  heard. 

Silence  reigned ;  broken  it  may  have  been  by  the  fluttering  of  the 
feathered  tribe  among  the  branches  of  trees,  or  by  their  woodwild  notes 
of  dulcet  melody ;  or  by  the  chattering  of  the  squirrel,  with  which  the 
woodland  abounded  ;  or  by  the  rustling  of  the  timid,  frightened,  panting 
deer,  leaping  among  the  thickets  ;  or  by  the  monotonous  roar  of  the 
adjacent  waterfall ;  or  by  the  dismal  howling  of  the  wild  beasts  of  prey ; 
or  by  the  still  more  dismal  yell  of  the  savage  ;  or,  when  the  air  became 
surcharged  with  moisture,  by  the  vivid  lightning's  flash,  succeeded  by 
the  thunder's  deep-toned  roar. 

The  house  stood  in  the  center  of  an  open  sunny  space,  surrounded  on 
every  side  by  exquisite  woodland  scenery.  And  toward  the  Cossayuna 
Lake  and  southward,  forming  a  semicircle,  the  great  pine  forest 
stretched  itself  over  the  earth  ;  and  underneath  its  dark  green  drapery, 
its  aromatic,  delicate  sheddings  were  profusely  scattered  on  the  ground, 
intermingling  and  contrasting  with  the  droppings  of  the  hard-wood, 
broad-leafed  forest  trees.  Hundreds  of  gigantic  oaks,  that  had  been 
perhaps  centuries  maturing,  stood  in  the  forest,  throwing  out  their 
gnarled  arms  and  antling  branches  over  the  red  man's  path,  and  had 
perhaps  witnessed  his  dusky  form  pass  and  repass  for  centuries ;  on  the 
bodies  of  which  trees  were  left  scars  from  the  blade  of  the  tomahawk, 
hurled  by  the  young  Indian  warrior,  with  unerring  precision,  at  some 
burl  or  moss  spot  on  their  sturdy  trunks. 

As  the  Indians  approached  the  clearing  upon  which  the  dwelling  stood, 
they  halted  in  an  opening  in  the  forest,  according  to  their  custom,  in 


13 

order  to  make  preparations  for  executing  their  fiendish  design.  They 
examined  their  implements  of  warfare  ;  they  looked  at  the  powder  with 
which  their  fire-arms  were  loaded  ;  they  picked  their  gun-flints  ;  they 
sharpened  their  tomahawks  and  scalping  knives,  and  returned  their 
gleaming  blades  into  sockets  prepared  for  their  reception,  in  broad 
leathern  belts  around  their  swarthy  waists,  to  ba  drawn  the  instant  they 
vrere  needed  ;  they  put  their  ammunition  in  the  most  convenient  place 
for  momentary  use.  After  partaking  of  a  hasty  repast — the  material  of 
which  was  a  fruit  of  their  plunder — they  paiated  in  spots  their  faces, 
necks  and  shoulders,  with  a  thick  coat  of  vermillion,  and  arrayed  them- 
selves with  their  customary  ornaments  of  warfare.  Thus,  the  naturally 
savage  and  ferocious  appearance  of  the  Indian,  was  greatly  enhanced  by 
the  artificial  means  studiously  employed  by  them,  in  order  to  make 
themselves  appear  more  hideous  and  terrific  to  their  enemies.  Nature 
and  art  being  thus  combined  in  producing  the  ferocious  and  terrifying 
appearance  of  the  savage,  this  appearance  needs  only  to  be  accompanied 
by  his  characteristic  yell — so  much  dreaded  by  the  early  settlers — to 
strike  terror  to  the  bravest  spirit,  and  to  make  the  stoutest  heart  quail. 
All  things  being  now  ready  for  the  expected  conflict,  the  munitions  of 
war  having  been  put  in  the  best  possible  order,  Le  Loup  and  his  party 
moved  slowly  forward  with  stealthy  steps  to  the  very  edge  of  the  forest, 
and  again  halted  in  order  to  take  a  survey  of  the  premises  around  the 
house,  and  to  mature  a  particular  plan  of  attack.  They  were  particu- 
larly cautious  not  to  expose  themselves  to  a  view  from  the  house,  con- 
cealing themselves  behind  the  trunks  of  trees,  and  cautiously  peeking 
through  small  interstices  in  the  foliage.  After  having  made  as  thorough 
an  examination  of  the  house  and  its  surroundings,  as  the  circumstances 
would  admit,  they  retired  a  short  distance,  and  assembled  in  council. 

It  was  so  ordered  by  the  overruling  hand  of  Providence,  that  on  that 
very  day,  an  unusual  occurrence,  two  men  from  a  distant  neighborhood, 
were  assisting  my  grandfather  in  harnessing  and  breaking  a  young  horse. 
The  Indians,  on  discovering  three  men  about  the  premises,  were  not  a 
little  disconcerted.  They  were  still  more  intimidated  on  discovering 
what  they  took  to  be  three  dwellings  on  the  place.  The  temporary 
dwelling  that  my  grandfather  had  first  erected  was  still  standing,  and 
also  a  rude  barn  erected  about  the  same  time,  making  three  buildings 
on  the  place,  with  the  one  the  family  lived  in.  The  Indians  were  led 
into  the  belief  that  each  of  these  buildings  was  occupied  by  a  distinct 
family,  from  the  fact  of  there  being  three  men  about  the  place.  They 
hesitated  about  making  an  assault  upon  the  house.  Accordingly,  they 
convened  a  council  to  take  into  consideration  the  practicability  of  carry- 
ing out  their  premeditated  plan.  The  members  of  the  council  were 


14 

divided  on  the  subject.  Le  Loup,  the,  wolf,  on  this  occasion  disrobed 
himself  of  the  garment  of  "  sheep's  clothing,"  with  which  he  was  attired 
when  he  made  his  celebrated  speech  at  the  Boquet,  and  assumed  his 
true  character.  His  wolfship  arose  in  the  council  chamber,  and  spoke, 
with  characteristic  Indian  eloquence,  as  follows  : 

"Warriors — the  pale  man's  bullet  has  stricken  down  one  of  our 
number ;  our  brother's  seat  in  this  council  is  vacant ;  his  voice  is 
forever  hushed  into  silence  ;  his  spirit  has  departed  to  the  realms  of  the 
red  man's  immortality — his  body  to  the  bosom  of  the  mother  earth  ; 
no  more  can  we  together  in  the  same  path  chase  the  panting  deer — no 
more  together  in  the  same  canoe  skim  the  foaming  wave.  Warriors, 
let  us  avenge  our  brother's  blood  ;  let  us  be  true  to  the  oath  we  have 
taken,  and  called  the  Great  Spirit  to  witness  ;  let  us  not  be  frightened 
at  the  appearance  of  three  pale  faces  around  the  wigwams ;  the  more 
scalps  the  more  glory  ;  let  us  carry  them  off  in  triumph  to  the  red  coats' 
camp. 

"  Brothers,  the  white  man  is  our  enemy :  he  has  wronged  us — de- 
ceived us.  When  he  first  came  over  the  big  waters  he  was  weak  and 
small — not  so  high  as  our  knee ;  we  were  strong  and  large ;  we  had 
extensive  hunting  grounds ;  we  were  friendly  with  the  pale  stranger  ; 
we  smoked  the  calumet  with  him ;  we  nourished  and  cherished  him ;  we 
shared  our  venison  and  our  succotash  with  him ;  we  let  him  warm  himself 
by  our  fires,  and  lay  down  on  our  bear  skins,  and  hunt  on  our  hunting 
grounds ;  he  grew — he  waxed  stronger  and  stronger,  and,  like  a  spoiled 
pappoose,  he  lifted  up  his  hand  against  us;  he  gave  our  fathers  fire- 
water to  drink  ;  they  drank,  and  became  drunk ;  they  knew  not  what 
they  did ;  they  gave  the  pale  intruder  paper  titles  to  our  hunting 
grounds  for  mere  trinkets.  Brothers,  the  forest  trees  upon  our  hunting 
grounds  are  falling  rapidly  before  the  pale  man's  axe ;  he  has  put  out 
our  fires  on  many  a  hill  and  dale  ;  his  saw-mills  are  disturbing  our  fishing 
places;  his  plow  is  on  our  hunting  grounds;  his  feet  are  trampling  on 
our  father's  bones. 

"  Brothers,  the  pale  intruder  is  not  satisfied  ;  he  is  striving  to  spread 
his  paper  titles  all  over  our  hunting  grounds  ;  and  if  the  Indian  does  not 
look  out  for  himself,  before  many  moons  shall  have  passed  over  his 
head,  he  will  not  have  a  place  left,  upon  which  he  can  spread  his  blanket. 
Brothers,  we  have  received  a  fresh  wrong ;  the  pale  faces  have  insulted 
us  ;  let  us  not  hesitate.  Up  !  warriors,  up  !  let  us  without  delay  avenge 
our  brother's  blood." 

When  Le  Loup  had  concluded  his  inflammatory  speech,  observing 
that  other  members  of  the  council  wished  to  speak,  he  slowly  resumed 


15 

his  seat.  A  warrior  arose  in  his  place,  more  cautious  and  less  courage- 
ous, and  spoke  to  the  following  effect : 

"  Warriors,  our  brother  has  spoken.  I  have  listened  to  him  atten- 
tively. His  words  are  big  with  danger.  None  of  you  can  feel  more 
keenly  the  loss  of  our  comrade  than  I  do.  I  am  borne  down  with  grief. 
Anguish  of  spirit  hath  taken  hold  of  me.  A  thirst  for  vengeance  glows 
in  my  bosom  with  excessive  ardor.  My  thoughts  go  back  unbidden  to 
the  death  scene  of  our  brother.  The  scene  is  still  before  my  eyes  ;  the 
blood  gushing  profusely  from  the  bullet  wound  ;  the  imploring  look  ;  the 
ghastly  countenance ;  the  quivering  lip ;  the  clammy  sweat ;  the  ago- 
nies and  contortions  ;  the  death  gasp  ;  the  last  struggle  ;  the  interment 
of  his  remains  in  yon  grassy  mound,  underneath  yon  big  tree  top,  among 
the  branches  of  which  the  wild  wind  moans  dolefully,  but  he  heareth  it 
not ;  the  pale  man's  feet  may  be  trampling  on  his  new  made  grave,  but 
he  heedeth  it  not. 

"  Brothers,  truly  the  white  man  is  our  enemy,  both  on  this  side  and 
the  other  side  of  the  big  waters ;  on  the  other  side  of  the  big  waters, 
the  great  Chief's  children  tell  us  that  the  pale  faces  on  this  side  will 
cheat  us  ;  and  the  pale  faces  on  this  side  tell  us  that  the  King's  chil- 
dren, from  the  other  side  will  cheat  us.  We  must  not  trust  to  the  one 
or  the  other.  The  Indians  must  look  out  for  themselves.  Brothers,  I 
understand  not  upon  what  right  the  pale  intruders  are  spreading  their 
paper  titles  upon  our  hunting  grounds.  How  could  our  fathers  give 
away  that  which  the  Great  Spirit  has  given  us  to  live  upon.  We  de- 
rived our  title  from  the  Great  Spirit.  These  hunting  grounds  are  ours. 
Brothers,  I  am  in  favor  of  avenging  our  wrongs,  but  let  us  take  care 
not  to  rush  thoughtlessly  and  heedlessly  into  danger.  What  meaneth 
those  three  pale  faces  about  the  place  ?  What  meaneth  those  three 
wigwams  ?  In  those  three  wigwams  there  may  be  three  families.  They 
may  outnumber  us.  They  may  be  stronger  than  we.  They  may  have 
guns  at  their  command.  They  may  see  us  as  we  step  from  the  forest. 
They  may  shoot  at  us  through  loop-holes  in  their  wigwams.  Their  bul- 
lets may  fall  fast  around  us.  In  our  eagerness  to  avenge  our  brother's 
blood  we  may  fall  a  sacrifice  to  our  rashness.  Let  us  pause  before  we 
rush  into  danger.  Brothers,  our  prisoner  weakens  our  force.  We  could 
not  trust  him  to  fight  for  us.  One  of  us  would  have  to  guard  him. — 
Otherwise  he  might  escape,  or  turn  and  fight  against  us.  The  remain- 
ing six  of  us  would  have  to  do  the  fighting.  The  three  families  might 
number  twice  as  many  as  we.  Brothers,  let  us  act  cautiously.  We 
know  not  the  enemy  we  would  have  to  meet.  Why  should  we  endanger 
our  lives  ?  What  necessity  calls  us  to  rush  into  the  presence  of  an  en- 
emy, whose  strength  we  know  not :  Brothers,  let  us  turn  aside  and 


16 

pass  on.  Let  us  take  revenge  on  the  next  faonly.  Let  us  avenge  our 
brother's  blood  where  it  can  be  done  in  safety." 

Thus  spake  the  warriors,  and  after  the  question  of  attack  was  fully 
discussed  pro  and  con  in  the  council  chamber,  the  argument  in  relation 
to  the  probability  of  there  being  three  families  on  the  premises,  had 
the  preponderance.  'It  caused  them  to  hesitate  ;  and  finally  to  aban- 
don the  undertaking. 

Thus,  by  the  interposition  of  a  kind  Providence,  a  family  was  saved 
from  a  fearful  doom.  If  the  overruling  hand  of  Providence  had  not 
directed  the  footsteps  of  the  two  men  thither,  undoubtedly,  tha  family 
would  have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  the  relentless  cruelty  of  the  savages. 

Although  Le  Loup  and  his  comrades  had  been  frustrated  in  accom- 
plishing their  design  upon  the  family,  and  were  not  a  little  irritated  and 
chagrined  at  the  failure,  yet  their  thirst  for  blood  was  not  at  all  abated. 
Afte*1  they  had  abandoned  the  undertaking,  they  passed  rapidly  onward 
with  elastic  step,  in  Indian  file,  winding  along  among  the  umbrageous  forest 
trees.  In  about  an  hour  from  the  time  they  started,  they  came  in  sight 
of  a  clearing  upon  which  a  dwelling  stood,  occupied  by  a  family  by  the 
name  of  Allen.  As  the  Indians  neared  the  clearing,  they  slackened 
their  pace,  and  as  they  approached  still  nearer,  they  used  more  caution 
— looking  in  every  direction  to  see  that  they  were  not  discovered,  and 
finally,  with  muffled  steps,  they  proceeded  to  the  very  edge  of  the  for- 
est, in  order  to  get  a  view  of  the  premises.  It  was  wheat  harvest;  the 
men  were  in  the  field  reaping  their  grain.  The  Indians,  after  having 
reconnoitered  the  place  as  well  as  they  could,  without  being  discovered 
from  the  field  or  the  house,  held  a  short  consultation,  and  unanimously 
agreed,  as  it  was  near  mid-day,  to  wait  till  the  men  in  the  field  went  in- 
to the  house  to  dinner.  They  considered  that  time  as  the  most  favora- 
ble opportunity  to  approach  the  house  undiscovered,  and  to  perpetrate 
their  diabolical  design  upon  the  family. 

From  the  house  that  the  Indians  had  just  left,  Mr.  Allen's  dwelling 
was  situated  at  the  distance  of  about  two  miles,  in  a  north-westerly  di- 
rection, and  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  north-easterly  from  the  pres- 
ent South  Argyle.  The  land  upon  which  the  house  stood  is  now  owned 
by  Charles  T.  Fullerton,  and  is  situated  at  the  distance  of  about  20  rods 
in  an  easterly  direction,  on  a  rise  of  ground,  from  the  residence  of  Mr. 
•Fullerton,  and  about  the  same  distance  in  a  southerly  direction  from  the 
dwelling  of  Archibald  Armstrong,  Jr. 

The  time  that  has  elapsed  since  the  doomed  family  occupied  the 
house  has  produced  a  great  change  in  the  vicinity  where  the  house  stood. 
The  majestic  forest  trees  that  then  stood  in  great  profusion,  have  fallen 
one  by  one  before  the  woodman's  axe,  and  the  place  where  they  stood 


17 

is  now  occupied,  at  the  same  season  of  the  year,  by  broad,  green  culti- 
vated fields.  Then,  where  walked  the  surly  bear,  and  prowled  the  hun- 
gry wolf,  and  screamed  the  spotted  panther,  now  may  be  seen  flocks 
and  herds  luxuriating  on  the  green,  sloping  hill-sides  ;  or  the  farmer 
swinging  his  cradle,  its  delicate  fingers  gathering  the  well-filled  grain, 
cut  by  its  broad,  thin,  gleaming  blade  ;  or  the  mower  bending  and 
swaying  to  his  scythe,  its  polished  steel,  as  it  moves  to  and  fro,  glisten- 
ing in  the  sunlight ;  or  the  husbandman  chirping  to  his  team,  as  it  hauls 
the  heavily-laden  wagon,  groaning  and  creaking  under  the  pressure  of 
the  golden  sheaves  of  grain,  or  the  fragrant  new-made  hay. 

Mr.  John  Allen's  family,  for  the  time  being,  consisted  of  nine  per- 
sons, viz: — himself  and  Mrs.  Allen,  and  three  children,  and  temporarily 
residing  in  the  family,  Mrs.  Allen's  sister,  two  colored  men  and  a  col- 
ored woman.  These  colored  people  were  slaves  owned  by  Mr.  George 
Kilmore,  who  was  Mr.  Allen's  father-in-law.  George  Kilmore  (or  Yer- 
ry,  the  German  name  by  which  he  was  then  called,  George  being  the 
English  of  Yerry)  resided  in  a  northerly  direction,  at  the  distance  of 
about  three  miles  from  Mr.  Allen's  house.  Mr.  Kilmore's  house  was 
situated  on  the  northern  suburbs  of  the  present  Argyle  Village,  on  the 
left  bank  of  Moses  Kill.  The  house  is  still  standing,  and  though  in  a 
dilapidated  condition,  occupied  by  a  family.  The  building  has  since 
undergone  repairs  within  and  without,  but  the  hewn  hemlock  logs  of 
which  it  was  composed  remain  as  they  were  originally  placed.  Its  form 
and  size  were  the  same  as  that  of  my  grandfather's  before  described, 
and  it  was  probably  built  about  the  same  time.  About  that  time,  Mr.  Kil- 
more erected  a  small  dwelling-house  and  a  grist-mill,  not  far  distant 
down  the  stream,  to  which  the  inhabitants  from  a  great  distance  resorted 
to  get  their  grain  floured.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  around  his 
house,  including  that  upon  which  Argyle  Village  now  stands.  The 
names  of  many  of  tho  descendents  of  Mr.  Kilmore  might  be  mentioned 
who  are  now  residing  in  the  township  of  Argyle  and  elsewhere,  from 
grand-children  down  to  great,  great,  great,  great  grand-children.  These 
numerous  descendants  must  i'eel  particularly  interested  in  reminiscences- 
so  nearly  connected  with  their  ancestral  history. 

There  appears  to  be  some  doubt  respecting  the  precise  day  that  the 
bloody  scene  wa*  enacted,  which  we  are  about  to  describe,  whether  it 
was'  on  Friday,  the  25th,  or  Saturday,  the  26th  of  July.^  From  the 
source  of  information  mentioned  in  the  beginning  of  this  sketch,  it  was 
on  the  former  of  these  days.  From  the  fact  of  the  contiguity  of  our 
informant  to  the  scene,  living  at  the  time,  and  passing  a  long  life  only 
two  miles  distant  from  the  place,  it  is  not  likely  there  could  be  a 
mistake  as  to  the  time.  Therefore,  according  to  this  information,  the 
B 


18 

bloody  scene  transpired  at  12  o'clock,  M.,  on  Friday,  the  25th  of  July, 
1777. 

On  Friday  morning,  Mr.  Kilmore  sent  three  slaves  to  assist  his  son- 
in-law  harvest  his  wheat.  Mrs.  Allen's  sister  went  along  with  them. — 
Whether  the  slave  woman  was  assisting  harvest  the  grain,  or  whether 
she  was  assisting  about  the  domestic  affairs  of  the  house,  is  not  known. 
The  reapers  were  in  the  harvest-field  when  the  Indians  arrived,  as  be- 
fore related. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  we  left  the  Indians  waiting  till  the  reapers 
retired  from  the  field  to  dinner.  They  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait 
quietly  till  the  time  arrived.  All  their  paraphernalia  of  warfare  had 
been  put  in  order  for  the  other  occasion,  as  before  related,  and  had  not 
been  used,  and  was  still  in  readiness.  The  time  fix  d  for  the  perpetra- 
tion of  the  deed  was  rapidly  approaching.  The  prisoner  made  an 
earnest  request  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  remain  behind,  and 
not  be  compelled  to  witness  the  heart-rending  scene.  The  Indians  at 
first  seemed  disinclined  to  grant  his  request,  but  after  the  prisoner  had 
made  repeated  earnest  entreaties  to  spare  his  feelings,  they  finally  con- 
sented to  grant  his  request.  Accordingly  it  was  agreed  that  one  of  the 
Indians  was  to  remain  with  him  and  guard  him,  while  the  others  were  to 
go  forward  and  execute  the  deed. 

Hark  !  the  signal  for  dinner  was  announced  from  the  house.  The 
men  retired  from  the  field  to  the  house.  The  family  sat  down  to  their 
last  dinner.  Little  did  they  think  that  the  signal  inviting  them  to  the 
table  was  also  the  signal  for  the  approach  of  the  messengers  of  death. 
But  no  time  was  now  to  be  lost ;  the  Indians  forthwith  issued  from 
the  forest  with  all  their  hideousness  and  blood-thirstings,  and  approach- 
ed the  house,  and  with  a  terrific  yell,  they But  what  followed  can 

only  be  gathered  from  the  different  positions  in  which  the  different  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  found,  as  no  eye  saw  it,  save  the  All-Seeing 
Eye,  and  the  eyes  of  the  perpetrators  of  the  deed. 

Although  more  than  eighty-one  years  have  elapsed  since  that  time, 
and  although  the  actors  in  that  frightful  scene  have  probably  long  since 
departed  this  life,  yet  even  now,  in  attempting  to  describe  the  horrible 
scene  that  presented  itself  after  the  awful  tragedy  was  enacted,  the  im- 
agination sickens,  and  a  noticeable  tremulousness  of  our  pen  may  be 
observed  as  we  write. 

Mr.  Allen  was  found  at  the  distance  of  a  few  rods  in  a  northerly  di- 
rection from  the  house,  about  midway  between  the  house  and  barn.  It 
is  supposed  that  when  alarmed  by  the  Indians  he  had  escaped  through 
a  back  door  or  window,  and  had  proceeded  thus  far  when  shot  down  by 
the  Indians.  Mrs.  Allen,  her  sister,  and  the  youngest  child  were  found 


19 

in  the  same  direction  from  the  house  with  that  of  Mr.  Allen,  but  near- 
er, and  had  probably  got  out  of  the  house  in  the  same  way.  It  is  likely 
that  the  women  had  hold  of  the  child's  hands,  and  were  escaping  with 
all  possible  speed  when  overtaken  by  the  Indians — tomahawked  and 
scalped.  The  other  two  children,  when  alarmed  by  the  Indians,  had 
secreted  themselves  in  a  bed,  and  were  there  found  tomahawked  and 
scalped.  One  of  the  colored  men  was  found  with  his  body  in  the  house, 
his  back  downwards,  his  head  protruding  from  the  door,  his  neck  across 
the  threshold,  his  body  gashed  and  mutilated  in  a  horrible  manner,  his 
scalp  torn  off,  and  his  lips  skinned  and  turned  back  on  his  face  and  chin, 
thus  presenting  a  shocking  sight.  From  the  numerous  wounds  found 
inflicted  on  his  body,  it  is  supposed  he  m-ade  a  desperate  resistance,  and 
probably  wounded  some  of  the  Indians,  and  in  order  to  gratify  their  re- 
vengeful dispositions,  they  thus  mutilated  bis  body,  and  left  it  in  this 
condition.  The  position  in  which  the  colored  woman  and  the  other  col- 
ored man  were  found  is  not  distinctly  recollected.  Thus,  in  and  around 
the  house,  lay  nine  inanimate  gory  bodies,  their  scalps  torn  off,  and  their 
bloodshot  eyes  protruding  fearfully  from  their  sockets. 

The  scene  consisted  of  three  stages,  which  passed  in  rapid  succession : 
first,  the  family  enjoying  their  noon-day  repast  in  the  full  vigor  of  health 
and  strength,  utterly  unconscious  of  any  danger  ;  then,  the  foeman's 
shout — the  report  of  muskets — the  clangor  of  arms — the  rattling  of 
tomahawks  and  scalping  knives — the  hurry  and  confusion — the  scream- 
ing and  groaning — the  writhings  and  agonies  ;  and  then,  all  was  still — 
the  din  of  war  had  subsided — the  savage  yell  had  died  away  upon  the 
breeze — the  black  mouthed  guns  had  been  silenced — the  clangor  of 
arms  had  ceased — the  wailings  and  contortions  were  over — silence 
reigned,  "emphatically  the  silence  of  death  brooded  over  the  scene." 
But  it  is  painful  longer  to  dwell  on  the  horrible  tragedy. 

Mr.  Kilmore  expected  his  daughter  and  slaves  home  on  Friday  eve- 
ning, but  as  they  did  not  return  at  that  time,  he  supposed  that  they  had 
not  finished  harvesting  the  wheat,  and  that  they  would  return  in  the  fore 
part  of  the  succeeding  day.  But  hour  after  hour  of  that  day  passed 
away,  and  they  did  not  return.  Mr.  Kilmore  waited  with  the  expecta- 
tion that  they  would  make  their  appearance  until  it  was  too  late  to  send, 
and  ascertain  the  cause  of  their  detention.  On  the  next  (Sabbath) 
mornino'  he  sent  a  colored  lad  on  horseback  to  find  out  the  reason  why 

O  * 

they  were  thus  detained.  As  the  boy  approached  the  house,  the  keen- 
scented  horse  stopped,  and  refused  to  go  forward — he  smelled  the  blood 
of  the  slaughtered  family.  It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  the 
horse  was  urged  forward  till  his  rider  got  a  view  of  the  appalling  scene. 
He  was  not  loner  in  conveying  the  fearful  tidings  home.  A  few  men  in 


20 

the  neighborhood  of  Mr.  Kilmore's,  assembled  on  that  day  and  buried 
the  dead.*  The  men,  while  performing  the  burial  service,  were  greatly 
afraid  of  the  return  of  the  Indians.  Whilst  some  stood  with  ri- 
fles in  their  hands,  the  others  dug  two  graves,  and  spread  a  sheet  in 
each,  and  deposited  the  bodies  of  the  whites  in  one  grave,  and  the  blacks 
in  the  other.  Although  the  plow  now  passes  over  the  ground  where  the 
house  stood,  and  where  the  graves  were  made,  yet  their  situation  can 
still  be  pointed  out.  Until  recently,  boards  have  been  kept  up  at  the 
graves  to  designate  the  spot.f  Two  aged  apple  trees  stand  near  the 
place,  and  it  is  supposed  they  were  young  trees  at  the  time  the  scene 
was  enacted,  if  so,  they  are  living  witnesses  of  that  eventful  tragedy. 
..  On  Monday  evening  following,  the  news  of  the  massacre  of  the  Allen 
,*£***'  f  family  reached  my  great-grandfather's,  who  resided  some  two  miles  north 
,-  cy^  of  Battenville,  on  what  is  latterly  known  as  Dwcllie's  hill.  When  the 
information  of  the  foul  murder  had  arrived,  the  family  thought  it  was 
more  than  probable  that  their  near  family  relatives  had  also  become  the 
victims  of  savage  cruelty,  from  the  fact  of  their  nearness  to  the  mas- 
sacred family.  In  order  to  relieve  the  awful  suspense  under  which  the 
family  labored,  Archibald  Campbell,  my  grandmother's  brother,  was 
determined  to  ascertain  what  might  be  the  truth  of  the  matter.  He 
endeavored  to  get  some  one  to  accompany  him  in  his  undertaking,  but 

C    £  s  ^  /          *  ^e  were  recently  informed  by  Mrs.  Robertson,  (lately  deceased,)  who  re- 
to -i  /  sided  at  Lakeville,  that  her  father,  Mr.  Alex.  McNaughton,  was  one  of  those  who 

..         I      assisted  at  the  interment  of  the  massacred  family. 

f  We  might  take  the  liberty  to  suggest  that  it  would  be  an  act  of  patriotism 
to  erect  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  this  family.  It  is  possible  that  the 
British  arms  might  have  been  crowned  with  success,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
horrid  cruelties  perpetrated  by  the  savages.  The  indignant  patriots,  on  hearing 
of  the  atrocious  conduct  of  the  Indians,  were  fired  with  an  extra  stimulus,  and 
were  determined  to  make  a  desperate  effort  to  avenge  these  cruelties,  and  to 
free  themselves  from  the  arbitrary  domination  of  Great  Britain.  Not  allowing 
their  excited  passions  to  cool,  the  Colonists,  with  all  possible  haste,  rushed  from 
the  mountain  sides  and  the  intervening  valleys,  and  from  the  extended  plains, 
to  the  battlefield,  and  by  their  daring  deeds  of  valor  forced  Gen.  Burgoyne  and 
his  army  into  an  unconditional  surrender.  This  defeat  exerted  a  deleterious 
effect  upon  the  whole  of  the  British  arms  in  America,  and  eventually  resulted  in 
the  withdrawal  of  the  whole  army.  It  is  possible  that  the  blood  of  the  victims, 
shed  by  savage  cruelty,  sealed  the  fate  of  the  American  Revolution.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  blood  thus  shed,  the  star-spangled  banner  of  liberty  might  never 
have  been  unfurled  to  the  breeze  over  a  free  and  independent  government,  and 
the  American  eagle  might  never  have  soared  aloft,  and  spread  wide  his  pinions 
over  a  great  and  prosperous  natio.i.  In  view  of  this  consideration,  would  it  not 
manifest  a  spirit  of  commendable  patriotic  zeal,  for  the  citizens  of  Washington 
County  to  erect  a  suitable  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  family  described 
above,  whose  lives  have  been  sacrificed  upon  the  National  .altar. 


21 

as  no  one  seemed  willing  to  go,  he  was  about  to  start  alone,  when  Mr. 
Neil  Gillespie  (whose  daughter,  Mrs.  Bain,  is  still  living  at  an  advanced 
age  in  the  township  of  Argyle),  volunteered  to  accompany  him.  The 
two  started  on  horseback,  under  the  covert  of  the  night  and  the  forest 
trees — the  distance  being  about  four  miles — with  the  expectation  of 
bringing  back — if,  indeed,  they  came  back — mournful  tidings  respecting 
the  fate  of  the  family.  When  they  were  within  about  half  a  mile  of  the 
clearing,  they  dismounted  and  tied  their  horses  to  trees,  and  proceeded 
on  foot,  in  order  to  make  as  little  noise  as  possible.  They  considered 
it  expedient  to  approach  the  house  with  great  caution  ;  for  they  were 
apprehensive  that  the  family  had  been  massacred,  and  that  the  Indians 
might  still  be  lurking  about  the  place,  or  had  perhaps  taken  up  a  tem- 
porary residence  in  the  house.  As  the  two  men  crossed  the  stream  on 
the  south  side  of  the  house,  they  were  not  a  little  alarmed  at  hearing 
something  that  resembled  the  groans  of  a  person.  This  groaning,  inter- 
mingling with  the  murmuring  of  the  water  in  the  stillness  of  the  night, 
sounded  dolefully  upon  their  ears.  They  supposed  that  the  family  had 
been  murdered,  and  that  the  groans  proceeded  from  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  it  who  had  been  left  for  dead.  But  on  a  more  particular  exam- 
ination, they  ascertained  that  the  noise  proceeded  from  a  swine  sty,  and 
was  occasioned  by  the  snoring  of  its  inmates.  p]ncouraged  by  this 
discovery,  they  went  forward  to  the  barn-yard,  and  there  found  the 
cattle  lying,  quietly  chewing  their  cuds.  They  looked  upon  this  as  a 
good  sign  that  all  was  safe.  They  proceeded  to  the  gate  that  led  to  the 
house,  and  found  it  shut.  They  considered  this  another  good  sign  ;  for 
if  the  Indians  had  been  there,  they  would  likely  have  left  the  gate  open, 
and  all  would  have  been  in  confusion.  And  finally,  they  groped  their 
way  to  the  house,  and  found  its  inmates  sleeping  soundly — unconscious 
of  any  danger.  This  was  the  first  intimation  of  the  probable  danger 
they  had  been  in,  and  of  what  had  befallen  the  Allen  family.  But  as 
yet  they  knew  nothing  about  the  council  of  Indians  that  had  convened  a 
few  rods  from  the  house  for  the  purpose  of  determining  their  fate. 

Although  the  family  were  not  fully  aware  of  the  great  danger  they 
had  been  in,  yet  they  knew  sufficient  to  alarm  them  greatly.  Without 
delay,  they  arranged  their  affairs  as  well  as  they  could,  and  started  that 
night  for  Duncan  Campbell's.  They  put  the  children  on  the  horses, 
and  groping  their  way  through  the  dense  forest,  arrived  in  safety  at  the 
place  of  destination. 

Dismayed  and  terrified,  the  settlers  no  longer  relied  upon  Burgoyne's 
promised  protection.  The  panic-stricken  patriots  and  loyalists,  on 
hearing  of  the  massacre  of  the  Allen  family,  and  other  similar  depreda- 
tions committed  by  the  Indians,  fled  with  all  possible  speed  to  some 
place  of  protection. 


22 

At  this  time,  a  few  families  had  taken  up  their  residence  at  the  head 
of  the  Cossayuna  Lake,  and  in  that  vicinity.  On  the  northern  margin 
of  the  Lake,  one  of  these  families  lived,  whose  name  was  McEachron. 
The  maternal  head  of  this  household  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  George 
Kilmore,  and  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Allen's,  whose  melancholy  fate  is  recorded 
on  a  preceding  page.  The  lineal  descendants  of  Peter  McEachron's 
family  reside,  at  the  present  day,  only  a  few  feet  distant  from  the  same 
place. 

On  hearing  of  the  direful  calamity  that  had  befallen  their  near  rela- 
tives, this  family,  with  the  others  in  the  immediate  neighborhood, 
resorted  without  delay  to  the  Cossayuna  Island,  as  the  nearest  place  of 
comparative  safety.  This  island,  as  before  stated,  was  situated  toward 
the  northern  extremity  of  the  lake,  and  nearly  equi-distant,  about  150 
rods,  from  the  west,  north  and  east  shore  of  the  lake  ;  and  toward  the 
south  the  lake  extended  to  the  distance  of  some  two  or  three  miles. 

These  terror-stricken  families  disposed  of  their  temporalities  as  well 
as  they  could  ;  and  taking  along  with  them  such  of  their  effects  as  could 
be  easily  removed,  including  some  of  the  smallest  of  their  domestic 
animals,  they  removed  to  the  island,  and  there  encamped  for  the  space 
of  two  or  three  weeks.  In  choosing  a  location  for  their  encampment, 
they  were  particularly  careful  to  select  a  spot  that  was  well  screened  by 
the  thick  foliage  of  the  surrounding  forest  trees,  in  order  to  prevent 
exposure  from  the  lake  shore.  During  the  time  they  sojourned  there, 
they  were  continually  apprehensive  that  they  would  be  ferreted  out  by 
the  keen-scented  savages.  In  order  to  secure  their  safety,  if  possible, 
they  took  turns  in  standing  sentinels,  especially  during  the  silent  watches 
of  the  night.  The  sentinels  were  stationed  so  that  they  could  have  a 
commanding  view  in  all  directions  ;  and  if  the  Indians  attempted  to  ap- 
proach the  island  with  stealth  and  muffled  oars,  they  could  give  the 
alarm  to  their  companions,  and  thus  be  prepared  to  make  a  defense. 
The  party  on  the  island  deemed  it  necessary  to  keep  as  quiet  as  pos- 
sible, so  as  not  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  Indians.  They  used  every 
means  in  their  power  to  prevent  the  wailing  of  their  younger  children, 
and  the  boisterousness  of  those  that  were  older  ;  the  barking  of  their 
hunting  dogs,  and  the  crowing  and  cackling  of  their  fowls.  For  they 
were  fearful  that  the  noise  occasioned  by  their  bipeds  and  quadrupeds 
would  reveal  their  whereabouts  to  the  lurking  savages.  But  when  Bur- 
goyne  had  left  Fort  Edward,  and  the  Indians  had  disappeared  from 
around  the  lake,  these  families  cautiously  returned  to  their  former 
homes. 

Most  of  the  families  residing  along  the  On-da-wa,  or  Batten  Kill,  and 
in  that  vicinity,  went  to  Fort  Edward,  and  among  them  was  our  ances- 


23 

tral  family.  After  the  different  families  had  arranged  their  respective 
affairs  as  hastily  as  possible,  they  assembled  and  started  for  Fort  Edward, 
taking  along  with  them  some  indispensable  necessaries,  and  driving  their 
cattle  before  them.  The  company  went  by  way  of  my  grandfather's, 
and  thence  to  the  place  where  the  Allen  family  were  murdered.  There 
the  party  made  a  halt,  and  took  a  melancholy  view  of  the  place  where 
the  bloody  tragedy  had  been  so  recently  enacted.  Among  other  things 
that  attracted  their  notice,  was  a  bloody  cap — with  a  long  cut  in  it, 
made  by  the  blade  of  a  tomahawk — lying  on  a  stump,  that  had  been 
worn  by  one  of  the  family  at  tha  time  of  the  murder.  After  taking  a 
brief  survey  of  the  place,  they  hastened  on  towards  the  encampment. 

Mr.  Alexander  Livingstone,  in  all  probability,  is  the  only  surviving 
member  of  that  party.  He  was  eight  years  of  age  at  that  time,  and 
resided  with  his  father  on  the  right  bank  of  Batten  Kill,  and  now  resides 
not  far  distant  from  the  same  place.  Many  of  the  incidents  of  the 
Revolution  are  still  fresh  on  his  memory,  particularly  those  occurring  on 
the  journeying  of  the  said  party  to  Fort  Edward.  Among  other  things 
related  by  him  in  a  conversation  we  recently  had  with  him,  was  the  cir- 
cumstance of  meeting  a  party  of  Indians,  whose  hostile  and  ferocious 
appearance  greatly  alarmed  the  company.  On  meeting  the  Indians,  the 
foremost  of  the  company,  who  were  driving  the  cattle,  turned  back  to 
the  rest  of  the  party,  in  order  that  they  might  be  together,  and  en- 
courage each  other.  But  the  Indians  did  them  no  harm. 

That  company,  thus  journeying  amid  the  implanted  forest  trees,  the 
denizens  of  the  forest  prowling  around  them,  and  bands  of  fierce  ma- 
rauders encompassing  them  about,  may,  in  some  respects,  be  compared 
to  the  children  of  Israel  journeying  in  the  wilderness,  the  wild  beasts 
lurking  about  them,  and  all  kinds  of  noxious  insects  annoying  them,  the 
Amalekites  rushing  down  from  the  mountain  sides  upon  them,  and  wild 
wandering  hordes  constantly  attacking  them.  And  well  might  that 
company  who  were  journeying  to  Fort  Edward,  sing,  as  Moses  did  when 
the  Israelites  were  journeying  to  the  promised  land,  "  Lord,  thou  hast 
been  our  dwelling-place  in  all  generations."  But  to  return  to  Le  Loup 
and  his  party. 

After  the  Indians  had  victimized  the  family — plundered  the  house, 
and  satisfied  their  curiosity — they  triumphantly  marched  off  with  the 
nine  gory  scalps  dangling  from  their  war-belts.  They  exulted  more 
over  the  scalps  of  the  slain,  and  attached  a  greater  degree  of  honor  to 
these  barbarous  badges  of  victory,  than  the  possession  of  the  living  per- 
sons of  their  enemies.  Hence  their  captive,  aware  of  this  characteristic 
of  the  Indians,  was  in  constant  dread  lest  they  might  become  weary  of 
conducting  him  along  in  person,  and  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it 


24 

would  be  more  honorable  and  convenient  to  take  his  scalp  and  leave  his 
body. 

From  Friday  afternoon,  the  25th  of  July,  until  Sabbath  morning  fol- 
lowing, the  whereabouts  of  Le  Loup  and  his  band  can  not  now  be 
designated.  But  on  that  morning  they  made  their  appearance  on  the 
brow  of  the  hill  north  of  Fort  Edward,  and  then  and  there  a  shocking 
tragedy  was  enacted ;  and  well  may  it  be  said,  in  reference  to  it,  that 
"  truth  is  stranger  than  fiction."  It  was  the  massacre  of  Miss  Jane 
McCrea,  an  amiable  and  intelligent  lady,  under  peculiar  circumstances. 
She  was  attired  in  her  wedding  dress,  and  about  to  be  joined  in  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  David  Jones,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  British  army.  The 
historions  of  the  Revolution  have  dwelt  upon  that  massacre  with  melan- 
choly interest.  It  has  furnished  a  theme  for  the  touching  ballad,  and  a 
subject  for  the  limners'  pencil  to  depict.  Owing,  however,  to  ex  parte 
statements  —  to  the  confusion  and  din  of  war,  and  conflicting  interests 
existing  at  the  time  the  scene  was  enacted — contradictory  versions  of 
that  lamentable  affair  have  been  made.  The  British,  on  the  one  hand, 
endeavored  to  smooth  over  and  palliate  that  tragic  scene,  and  exculpate 
themselves  from  having  any  instrumentality  in  bringing  it  about ;  whilst 
the  Americans,  on  the  other  hand,  seized  upon  it  with  avidity,  and  in 
their  eagerness  to  make  capital  out  of  it,  perhaps  somewhat  exaggerated 
it.* 

It  is  believed  that  the  following  may  be  relied  upon,  which  we  had 
from  the  source  already  mentioned,  and  from  a  work  entitled,  "  The 
Life  of  Jane  McCrea,"  by  Mr.  David  Wilson,  who  seems  to  have  spared 
no  pains  in  collecting  the  facts  from  aged  people  residing  in  the  vicinity 
where  the  incident  occurred.  But  as  "  The  Life  of  Jane  McCrea  "  is 
interwoven  with  "  Burgoyne's  Expedition  in  1777,"  it  is  proposed  in 
this  place  to  give  a  brief  description  of  the  parties,  and  circumstances 
immediately  connected  with  that  bloody  tragedy. 

Jane  McCrea  was  born  about  the  year  1757.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  who  emigrated  from  Scotland  and  settled 
in  New  Jersey  shortly  anterior  to  the  above  date.  At  a  tender  age  she 

*  For  instance,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Gen.  Burgoyne  by  Gen.  Gates,  in 
which,  after  alluding  to  the  massacre  of  Jane  McCrea  and  others  by  the  Indians, 
he  directly  accuses  Gen.  Burgoyne  with  paying  a  bounty  for  scalps.  But  it  ap- 
pears from  his  reply,  as  well  as  from  his  speech  at  the  Boquet,  that  the  allegation 
was  not  strictly  true  ;  but  still,  at  the  same  time,  inasmuch  as  Burgoyne  con- 
sented to  act  with  those  savage  allies,  and  promised  them  a  reward  for  prisoners, 
and  as  he  was  aware  of  their  uncontrollable  passion  for  scalps — of  the  great 
honor  they  attached  to  these  badges  of  conquest — the  charge  made  by  Gen. 
Gates  was  in  one  sense  true. 


was  deprived  of  the  care  and  solicitude  of  an  affectionate  mother,  who 
was  amoved  by  death.  When  about  16  years  of  age,  she  was  left  an 
orphan.  Shortly  after  her  father's  death,  she  went  to  reside  with  her 
brother,  John  McCrea,  who  had  settled  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Hud- 
son river,  not  far  distant  south  of  Fort  Edward.  Miss  McCrea  possessed 
a  natural  desire  for  the  acquisition  of  substantial  knowledge,  and  her 
father's  well  filled  library  furnished  ample  materials  for  the  gratification 
of  her  predominant  propensity.  The  free  access  to  her  father's  library 
and  the  moral  and  religious  parental  instruction  which  she  received, 
rendered  her  intelligent  beyond  her  years.  Her  natural  and  acquired 
abilities  were  above  mediocrity.  In  person  she  was  the  medium  size, 
and  symmetrically  formed.  It  has  been  said  that  her  hair  was  so  long 
and  exuberant,  that  when  unconfined,  it  trailed  on  the  floor  upon  which 
she  walked.  In  personal  appearance  she  was  uncommonly  beautiful 
and  prepossessing.  Gen.  Gates,  having  occasion  to  speak  of  her, 
represents  her  as  "  a  young  lady  lovely  to  the  sight,  of  virtuous  char- 
acter and  amiable  disposition."  And  in  his  Field  Book,  Lossing  de- 
scribes her  as  "  so  graceful  in  manners,  and  so  intelligent  in  features, 
that  she  was  the  favorite  of  all  who  knew  her." 

Shortly  after  John  McCrea  went  to  reside  on  the  bank  of  the  Hudson, 
a  family  by  the  name  of  Jones  settled  on  the  same  bank  of  the  river — 
a  few  miles  further  north — who  had  been  friends  and  neighbors  in  New 
Jersey.  The  younger  members  of  the  families  had  been  brought  up 
from  childhood  together.  An  early  intimacy  existed  between  David 
Jones  and  Jane  McCrea,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  it  ripened 
into  affection.  David  Jones,  in  person,  was  handsome  and  well  formed. 
He  was  "  gay,  social  and  brave,"  of  pleasing  address  and  a  generous  dis- 
position. The  many  ennobling  traits  of  character  with  which  he  was 
possessed,  rendered  him  an  object  of  respect  among  his  male  companions, 
and  of  favor  among  the  other  sex. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  difficulties  between. the  Colonies  and 
Great  Britain,  David  Jones  leaned  to  the  loyalist  side,  whilst  John 
McCrea  favored  the  other.  The  former,  however,  concealed  his  views 
from  motives  of  expediency.  He  did  not  wish  to  take  any  step  that 
would  endanger  the  pending  matrimonial  suit  that  he  was  prosecuting 
with  so  much  vigor.  The  suitors  had  frequent  interviews.  Their  at- 
tachment to  each  other  grew  stronger  and  stronger.  They  looked 
forward  with  joyful  anticipations  to  the  day,  as  not  far  distant,  when 
they  would  voluntarily  ratify  their  plighted  faith  upon  the  hymeneal 
altar. 

In  the  meantime,  the  difficulties  increased  between  the  two  countries. 
As  the  war  progressed,  the  prospective  brothers-in-law  became  more 


26 

and  more  confirmed  in  the  respective  principles  they  had  espoused. 
John  McCrea  had  already  enlisted  under  the  patriot  banner — had  en- 
dured the  toils  and  privations  of  a  winter's  campaign  in  Canada — had 
been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel — and  had  returned  home,  dis- 
heartened and  discouraged  at  the  signal  defeat  of  the  Colonists.  David 
Jones,  on  hearing  of  the  expected  arrival  of  a  formidable  army  at  Que- 
bec, under  the  command  of  G-en.  Burgoyne,  resolved  to  join  the  Royal 
army.  He  made  known  this  resolution  to  the  affectionate  maiden,  to 
which  she  reluctantly  consented.  He  confidently  represented  to  her 
that  the  Colonists  could  not  long  resist  the  powerful  arm  of  Great 
Britain,  and  that  peace  would  soon  be  restored,  and  that  then  they 
would  be  joined  in  happy  wedlock. 

Accordingly,  late  in  the  autumn  of  1776,  David  Jones  started  for 
the  purpose  of  enlisting  under  the  standard  of  the  King.  On  reaching 
Crown  Point,  he  awaited  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Burgoyne.  When  the 
army  arrived,  it  encamped,  and  received  the  Indian  allies,  according  to 
previous  arrangement,  as  before  related.  The  manly  form  and  prepos- 
sessing exterior  of  David  Jones  procured  for  him  the  office  of  Lieutenant 
in  Gen.  Frazer's  division.  He  accompanied  the  victorious  army  toward 
the  place  of  its  destination.  In  the  meantime,  the  lovers  found  means 
of  conveying  letters  to  and  from  each  other,  which  breathed  a  spirit  of 
unabating  affection. 

In  order  to  present  an  intelligible  view  of  the  bloody  scene  we  are 
about  to  relate,  it  will  be  necessary  to  describe  the  relative  positions  of 
the  belligerent  armies,  and  of  the  parties  immediately  connected  with  the 
affair.  The  van  of  the  British  army — among  whom  was  Lieut.  Jones — 
had  encamped  near  a  place  called  Moss  Street,  which  was  about  four 
miles  from  Fort  Edward.  Burgoyne  was  with  the  remainder  of  the  army 
a  short  distance  in  the  rear.  The  main  body  of  the  American  army 
had  abandoned  Fort  Edward,  and  marched  down  the  left  bank  of  the 
Hudson,  and  had  "encamped  at  Moses  Kill.  The  garrison  left  in  com- 
mand of  the  fort  had  stationed  a  picket-guard,  in  sight  of  the  fortress, 
to  watch  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  which  was  daily  expected,  as  the 
garrison  intended  to  evacuate  the  Fort  on  the  approach  of  the  British 
army.  Mrs.  McNeil's  house,  ia  which  Jane  McCrea  was  temporarily 
residing,  and  from  which  she  was  taken  captive,  is  still  to  be  seen  near 
the  principal  street  of  the  village.  "  It  is  a  small,  antiquated  looking 
building,  built  after  the  prevailing  fashion  of  those  times,  presenting  a 
striking  contrast  with  its  princely  neighbors."  In  front  stands  an  aged, 
gigantic  elm — a  living  witness  of  the  stirring  scenes  of  the  Revolution. 

John  McCrea  resided  a  mile  or  two  down  the  river  from  the  Fort, 
and  on  the  opposite  bank.  He  was  about  to  remove  his  family  to 


27 

Albany,  and  expected  bis  sister  to  accompany  him  thither.  He  was 
already  awaiting  her  return  from  Mrs.  McNeil's.  That  being  the  state 
of  affairs,  and  adverse  as  they  were,  Lieut.  Jones  looked  upon  it  as  the 
most  favorable  time  to  have  the  marriage  ceremony  performed,  as  the 
termination  of  the  war  might  leave  the  parties  forever  separated.  But 
how  was  it  to  be  accomplished  ?  It  could  not  take  place  at  Col. 
McCrea's,  for  they  had  then  become  warm  antagonistic  partisans. 
Neither  could  it  take  place  at  Mrs.  McNeil's,  for  his  appearance  there 
would  have  resulted  in  almost  certain  capture,  as  he  was  well  known  in 
that  vicinity — indeed,  it  would  have  been  unsafe  for  him  to  have  ap- 
peared beyond  the  British  outposts.  In  view  of  these  difficulties,  Lieut. 
Jones  made  a  proposition,  and  communicated  the  same  to  the  affection- 
ate maiden,  which  was  substantially  as  follows  :  "  I  will  send  a  party  of 
Indians,  under  the  control  of  an  Indian  chief  by  the  name  of  Duluth,  in 
whom  I  place  the  utmost  confidence,  with  the  assurance  of  giving  him  a 
liberal  reward.  I  will  instruct  the  party  of  Indians  to  proceed  noise- 
lessly and  stealthily  among  the  thickets,  taking  care  not  to  be  seen  from 
the  Fort,  or  the  picket  guard  on  the  brow  of  the  hill.  I  will  instruct 
them  to  display  a  signal  agreed  upon,  that  can  be  seen  from  Mrs. 
McNeil's  cottage.  On  discovering  such  signal,  you  will  start  in  the 
direction  of  the  British  camp,  as  if  going  to  a  neighboring  house.  The 
Indians  will  keep  pace  with  you,  and  serve  as  an  invisible  escort,  not 
making  their  appearance  unless  you  are  in  actual  danger.  You  will 
thus  be  conducted  until  you  are  fairly  within  the  British  lines,  when  I 
will  meet  you  in  person,  and  escort  you  to  the  camp,  where  a  chaplain 
will  be  in  readiness  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony,  and  then  you 
can  remain  with  the  officers'  ladies,  or  stay  for  a  time  with  Mrs. 
McNeil."  This  proposition  was  presented  to  the  fair  maiden  for  ac- 
ceptance or  rejection.  She  was  in  a  dilemma.  Her  brother  had  sent  a 
messenger  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  her  detention.  It  was  necessary  to 
keep  him  in  ignorance  of  the  real  cause  of  delay.  But  the  time  had 
come  when  she  must  choose  the  one  or  the  other  alternative  of  this 
dilemma.  She  was  unwilling  to  take  any  step  that  would  mar  brotherly 
love  on  the  one  hand,  or  sexual  love  on  the  other.  She  finally,  though 
reluctantly,  under  existing  circumstances,  accepted  of  the  proffered 
proposition. 

Accordingly,  Duluth  and  his  party,  faithful  to  their  instructions, 
appeared  in  the  thicket  and  displayed  the  signal.  The  bride,  adorned 
for  her  husband,  had  been  anxiously  awaiting  the  appearance  of  the 
sign.  Forthwith  she  issued  from  the  humble  mansion,  and  directed  her 
steps  toward  the  British  camp.  Such  an  act  of  courage  and  intrepidity 
may  be  looked  upon  at  the  present  day  as  bordering  upon  imprudence 


28 

and  masculine  boldness.  But  at  that  time  a  female  apparently  passing 
from  one  neighbor  to  another,  even,  between  the  contending  armies, 
would  not  likely  be  molested.  According  to  tradition,  the  bride  herself 
"  laughed  at  the  idea  of  personal  danger,  and  characterized  it  as '  a  true 
love  scheme.'  "  If  she  had  started  at  any  other  time,  even  a  few 
minutes  sooner  or  later,  in  all  probability  she  would  have  passed  un- 
harmed. But  just  as  she  was  ascending  the  hill,  Le  Loup  and  his 
party  made  their  appearance  on  the  hill,  as  before  related,  and  made  a 
violent  attack  upon  the  picket  guard,  and  slew  the  captain,  and  the 
remainder  fled  precipitately  in  the  direction  of  the  Fort.  The  affrighted 
girl  also  fled  with  them,  the  Indians  hotly  pursuing  them,  and  observing 
her  run  into  Mrs.  McNeil's,  pursued  and  seized  her  and  Mrs.  McNeil, 
dragging  them  out  of  the  house,  and  put  the  trembling  girl  on  a  horse  ; 
Mrs.  McNeil  being  too  corpulent  for  that  mode  of  conveyance,  they 
hurried  her  along  on  foot  in  the  direction  of  the  British  camp.  On  the 
west  side  of  the  eminence  upon  which  the  picket  guard  was  stationed, 
stood  a  majestic  pine,  at  the  base  of  which  gurgled  a  clear,  cool  spring. 
At  this  place  the  Indians  and  their  captives  had  arrived,  when  Duluth, 
obedient  to  his  instructions,  made  his  appearance  and  claimed  to  be  the 
protector  of  the  fair  maiden.  Le  Loup  claimed  her  as  his  rightful 
captive.  Both  chiefs  resolutely  maintained  their  supposed  rights. 
Angry  words  passed  between  them.  Neither  would  yield.  A  violent 
altercation  ensued.  By  this  time  a  body  of  men  had  issued  from  the 
Fortress  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians  that  had  attacked  the  picket  guard. 
Bullets  were  already  whistling  over  the  Indians'  heads.  No  time  was 
now  to  be  lost.  Duluth  seized  the  horse's  reins  upon  which  the  captive 
rode,  and  attempted  to  lead  him  away — whereupon  Le  Loup,  the  wolf, 
in  a  violent  paroxysm  of  rage,  snatched  his  tomahawk  from  his  belt,  and 
hurled  its  glittering  blade  deep  into  the  maiden's  side.  She  fell  from 
the  horse.  That  long  glossy  hair  that  had  been  so  recently  arranged 
with  more  than  ordinary  care  at  the  toilet,  Le  Loup  grasped  with  the 
long,  swarthy  fingers  of  his  left  hand,  and  seizing  his  scalping  knife 
with  the  other,  quickly  severed  the  scalp,  and  brandished  it  in  the  air, 
uttering  a  yell  of  savage  exultation. 

When  the  gory  scalp  was  presented  to  Lieut.  Jones,  he  looked  at  it 
with  a  ghastly  vacant  stare  ;  he  spoke  not,  he  wept  not — his  grief  was 
so  withering  that  the  fountain  of  tears  was  dried  up.  From  that  day  he 
was  a  changed  man.  Hitherto  he  was  cheerful  and  fond  of  social 
entertainment,  and  delighted  in  scenes  of  festivity  and  hilarity.  Hence- 
forth, like  the  lone  pelican  of  the  wilderness,  he  lived  a  solitary  and 
secluded  life.  His  hopes  were  blasted,  his  heart  broken,  and  he  sunk 
into  the  grave  under  the  pressure  of  the  most  pungent  grief. 


29 

When  Col.  McCrca  was  informed  of  the  melancholy  fate  of  his  sister, 
he  was  overwhelmed  with  grief.  He  never  fully  recovered  from  that 
heart-rending  bereavement.  Not  long  since  we  were  informed  by  Mrs. 
Hoberlson,  to  whom  a  reference  has  been  made  before  in  a  foot-note, 
and  who  was  a  niece  of  John  McCrea,  that  she  had  often  heard  her  uncle 
speak  of  the  cruel  death  of  his  sister,  but  never  without  shedding  tears. 
The  brave  Colonel  could  recount  the  bloody  scenes  of  the  battle-field — 
of  the  leaden  messengers  of  death  whistling  past  his  ears — of  his  com- 
rades falling  here  and  there  around  him — of  garments  rolled  in  blood — 
with  comparative  composure  ;  but  when  he  came  to  speak  of  the  violent 
death  of  his  sister,  his_only_sisigr,  the  big  tears  chased  each  other  in 
rapid  succession  down  his  care-worn  and  furrowed  cheeks. 

My  grandmother  had  two  brothers,  James  and  Alexander  Campbell, 
who  were  officers  in  the  British  army,  and  were  in  the  camp  at  the  time 
the  scalps  of  the  Allen  family  and  Miss  McCrca  were  brought  into  the 
encampment  by  the  Indians.  As  the  Campbells  were  well  acquainted 
with  that  family,  they  recognized  the  scalps  from  the  color  of  the  hair ; 
and  they  supposed,  from  the  fact  of  the  contiguity  of  their  sister's 
family  to  that  of  Mr.  Allen's,  that  they  were  also  massacred.  But  they 
ascertained  from  Le  Loup's  captive  that  their  relatives  were  safe,  but 
of  their  narrow  escape — of  the  council  of  war  that  was  held  over  their 
destiny,  as  before  related.  Before  closing  this  sketch,  there  is  one 
other  incident  that  is  perhaps  worth  relating. 

An  aged  Indian  was  present  when  the  scalps  of  the  Allen  family  and 
Miss  McCrea  were  brought  into  the  British  camp.  The  frosts  of 
seventy  winters  had  softened  his  cruel  and  barbarous  passions — so  char- 
acteristic of  his  race — into  feelings  of  justice  and  humanity.  After 
looking  thoughtfully  and  demurely  for  a  moment  at  the  bloody  scalps, 
he  uttered  the  following  remarkable  prophecy  :  "  That  army  can  not 
prosper,  that  tolerates  taking  the  scalps  of  women  and  little  children." 
Whether  this  prophecy  was  spoken  in  reference  to  the  whole  of  the 
British  army  in  America,  or  whether  in  reference  to  that  division  of  the 
army  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Burgoyne,  is  not  now  known ;  in 
either  case,  however,  it  was  fulfilled,  but  more  especially  in  reference  to 
the  latter.  A  prediction  coming  from  such  a  source — from  an  untu- 
tored savage — predicated  upon  the  toleration  of  inhumanity,  was  indeed 
a  withering  rebuke  to  the  civilized  British  troops. 

At  the  time  that  prediction  was  uttered  there  was  but  little  prospect 
of  its  being  fulfilled.  The  patriots  were  discouraged,  and  were  retiring 
before  the  prowess  of  the  British  arms.  The  officers  of  the  British 
army  were  confidently  asserting  the  success  of  the  royal  cause.  Bur- 
goyne represented  the  British  armies  and  fleets  as  amply  sufficient  "  to 


30 

crush  every  part  of  America."  When  the  loyalists  complained  of  the 
frequent  massacres  committed  by  the  Indians,  and  demanded  protection, 
Brigadier- General  Frazer  remarked,  "  It  is  a  conquered  country,  and 
we  must  wink  at  these  things."  The  royal  army  started  from  Canada 
under  the  most  auspicious  circumstances.  The  gallant  commander, 
Gen.  Burgoyne,  was  an  experienced  and  celebrated  officer.  The 
British  government  had  employed  him,  some  fifteen  years  prior  to  that 
time,  in  an  official  capacity  in  the  wars  with  the  Portuguese  and  Span- 
iards, and  had  entrusted  him  with  many  other  important  offices.  His 
government  reposed  in  him  the  utmost  confidence.  He  set  out  from 
Canada  with  a  formidable  army,  with  the  prospect  of  a  brilliant  cam- 
paign. He  marched  his  army  triumphantly  toward  the  place  of  its 
destination,  the  enemy  disappearing  before  him,  like  the  morning  dew 
before  the  rising  sun.  On  the  arrival  of  the  royal  army  at  Fort  Edward, 
it  was  "  seized  with  a  delirium  of  joy."  To  reach  this  point  was  an 
object  long  looked  forward  to  with  joyful  anticipation.  "  Now  the 
whole  army  shared  in  the  ardor  and  hopes  of  its  chiefs  ;  not  a  doubt 
was  entertained  of  an  approaching  triumph,  and  the  conquest  of 
America." 

The  speedy  fulfillment  of  the  old  Indian's  prediction  is  worthy  of 
notice.  No  sooner  was  it  uttered  than  it  was  being  verified.  When  at 
Fort  Edward,  the  British  army,  being  in  need  of  ammunition  and  pro- 
vision, Gen.  Burgoyne  was  informed  that  the  Americans  had  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  military  stores  and  provisions  at  Bennington,  and 
in  order  to  secure  them,  he  sent  Col.  Baum  with  about  a  thousand 
German  troops  and  a  hundred  Indians.  But  when  he  was  within  seven 
miles  of  Bennington,  he  learned  that  the  Colonists  were  more  strongly 
intrenched  than  was  expected.  He  halted  and  awaited  further  orders. 
Gen.  Burgoyne  sent  a  reinforcement  of  five  hundred  German  troops, 
but  before  they  arrived,  the  Americans,  under  Gen.  Stark,  made  an 
attack  on  Col.  Baum  and  defeated  him.  The  pursuit  of  the  Patriots 
was  for  a  moment  checked  by  the  arrival  of  the  reinforcement ;  but 
even  the  army  as  reinforced,  was  soon  compelled  to  make  a  precipitate 
retreat,  with  the  loss  of  their  general  and  six  hundred  men  killed  and 
prisoners,  and  a  quantity  of  military  equipments.  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  the  fulfillment  of  the  old  Indian's  prophecy. 

Leaving  Fort  Edward,  Gen.  Burgoyne  proceeded  slowly  down  the 
river  with  his  troops,  with  the  expectation  of  effecting  a  junction  at 
Albany  with  the  army  under  St.  Leger,  but  the  former  meeting  the 
Colonial  army  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Gates,  when  within  about 
twenty-two  miles  of  Albany,  a  severe  battle  ensued.  Both  armies  had 
suffered  so  intensely  that  neither  chose  to  renew  the  battle  the  succeed- 


31 

ing  day.  About  three  weeks  after,  a  second  battle  was  fought,  in 
which  the  Americans  were  victorious.  Gen.  Burgoyne,  with  his  troops, 
retreated  to  Saratoga  ;  and  shortly  after,  finding  himself  hemmed  in  on 
all  sides,  was  obliged  to  surrender  the  entire  army  on  the  ISth  of 
October. 

Thus  the  proud  and  haughty  General,  that  represented  the  British 
troops  as  amply  sufficient  "  to  crush  every  part  of  America,"  was  soon 
forced  to  yield.  The  time  that  perdiction  was  uttered,  marked  the 
epoch  when  Buvgoyne's  military  glory  had  risen  to  its  meridian  splen- 
dor ;  henceforth  it  rapidly  declined,  to  set  upon  the  plains  of  Saratoga, 
to  rise  no  more.  That  well-disciplined  army,  that  started  from  the 
north  under  so  many  flattering  auspices,  with  the  expectation  of  speedily 
beholding  "  a  conquered  country,"  was  soon  compelled  to  submit  to  the 
humiliation  and  degradation  of  an  unconditional  surrender.  Those  fur- 
bished arms,  glistening  in  the  sun-light  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  British 
soldiers,  were  so  soon  to  be  grounded  in  presence  of  the  enemy.  That 
flag  that  floated  so  proudly  and  triumphantly  in  the  breeze,  was  so  soon 
to  be  trailed  low  in  Saratoga's  dust. 

Thus  the  old  Indian's  prophecy  was  literally  fulfilled.  The  time  it 
was  uttered  marked  the  precise  time  between  the  prosperity  and  ad- 
versity of  Burgoyne  and  his  army. 

As  to  Le  Loup,  the  wolf,  after  he  had  performed  the  tragic  scenes 
upon  the  stage  of  time,  as  recorded  above,  the  curtain  drops,  never 
again  to  be  drawn  ;  henceforth  time's  oblivious  shades  have  obliterated 
his  pathway — his  subsequent  history  is  shrouded  in  mystery.  It  is  not 
known  whether  he  joined  the  expedition  to  Bennington — or  whether  he 
accompanied  Burgoyne,  and  was  with  him  when  he  surrendered  at 
Saratoga — or  whether,  after  being  severely  reprimanded  by  Gen.  Bur- 
goyne for  his  cruel  and  barbarous  conduct,  he  deserted  and  returned  to 
his  forest  home,  there  to  arrange  the  numerous  scalps,  taken  in  his 
peregrinations,  in  some  conspicuous  place  upon  the  walls  of  his  wigwam, 
upon  which,  in  after  times,  to  gloat  his  savage  eyes  and  gratify  his 
morbid  sensibility,  and  to  exhibit  to  his  fellow-warriors  those  badges  of 
victory  as  honorable  trophies  of  his  valor  and  intrepidity,  and  to  boast 
of  them  exultingly  at  the  war-dances  of  his  tribe.  Whatever  may  have 
been  his  latent  history,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  long  since  "  his 
spirit  has  departed  to  the  realms  of  the  red  man's  immortality.'' 

No  crowds  throng  round,  no  anthem  notes  ascend. 
To  bless  his  coining  and  embalm  his  end; 
Even  that  he  lived,  is  for  his  conqueror's  tongue — 
By  foes  alone  his  death-song  must  be  sung. 


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